Divorce mediation in Shawnee County, KS

How does mediation work in Shawnee County?

Shawnee County is the Third Judicial District of Kansas, with 13 district judges [1]. Under the district's local rule 3.218, litigants in all civil cases must consider alternative dispute resolution, and the assigned judge orders the parties to try mediation or a similar process at the earliest appropriate time [2]. In domestic cases, rule 3.401 says that, outside emergencies, a motion to change custody or residency must show the parties attended two mediation or conciliation sessions or made good-faith efforts to do so [3]. The Topeka Center for Peace and Justice is on the state's approved-program list [4], and listed mediators come from the Kansas Judicial Branch's provider lists [5][6].

1. K.S.A. 4-204 (Third judicial district)
2. Third Judicial District – DCR 3.218 Alternative Dispute Resolution
3. Third Judicial District – DCR 3.401 Domestic Relations Cases
4. Kansas Judicial Branch – Approved Dispute Resolution Programs (rev. 03.13.2026)
5. Kansas Judicial Branch – List of Providers: Core Mediation
6. Kansas Judicial Branch – List of Providers: Domestic (family) Mediation

Fact-checked 2026-10-07. Court programs change; confirm with the clerk.